Ex-Miami student convicted of campus sex offense

Yuyang David Bai was acquitted of most serious charge of aggravated robbery; sentencing set  for May 5.

Yuyang David Bai’s parents watch as their 20-year-old son is led out of the courtroom in handcuffs Thursday, March 25, following his conviction in Butler County Common Pleas Court of gross sexual imposition and assault of a police officer.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier Yuyang David Bai’s parents watch as their 20-year-old son is led out of the courtroom in handcuffs Thursday, March 25, following his conviction in Butler County Common Pleas Court of gross sexual imposition and assault of a police officer.

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 12:55 PM Friday, March 26, 2010

HAMILTON — Once a college student with a 4.0 GPA and aspirations of becoming a doctor, Yuyang David Bai will now face up to three years in prison and become a registered sex offender.

A jury convicted Bai Thursday, March 25, of gross sexual imposition and assault.

They found Bai guilty of sexually assaulting a fellow Miami University student in the early morning hours of Halloween, and assaulting a police officer who stopped him.

The jury acquitted Bai of the most serious charge of attempted aggravated robbery; the officer said Bai went after his gun.

The 20-year-old from Naperville, Ill., was expressionless as the verdict was read in Butler County Common Pleas Court. He calmly handed his wristwatch to his father before being shackled and led to jail.

“There are no winners in this type of situation, but justice was done,” said Assistant County Prosecutor Jason Phillabaum.

He credited Miami University Police Officer Jay Young for noticing Bai pulling the victim into an empty campus building. Young followed them inside, where he said he heard the woman say “no, please stop I don’t want it to go there” and found Bai on top of her.

“I just think I was in the right place at the right time,” Young said.

The young woman said she was too drunk to remember much from the incident — she had been taken to the hospital and cited for underage drinking earlier that night — but remembers a stranger putting his hand up her skirt against her will.

Bai said he didn’t realize Young was a police officer in the darkened room and tried to slip past him. Young said the lights were on, and they wrestled for more than a minute.

In closing arguments, defense attorney Wayne Staton said Bai didn’t realize she was drunk. He replayed video of the two of them buying ice cream on campus, and recalled Bai’s testimony that they had been kissing and holding hands consensually, and said that he never touched any private areas.

Staton declined to comment after the verdict was read, as did the victim’s family.

Phillabaum said the verdict sends a message that, “Everyone needs to be responsible for their own actions.”

Bai’s sentencing is scheduled for May 5. He faces up to 1.5 years in prison on each charge, and must register as a sex offender for at least 15 years. Bai is not currently enrolled at Miami. He and the victim were 19-year-old sophomores when the crime occurred. Both are now 20.

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